Suneet Varma is ready to wow Mumbai

Delhi-based fashion designer Suneet Varma has finally found his flamboyant-yet-traditional designs a spacious home in Kemps Corner. The dapper couturier speaks of his love for Mumbai in a freewheeling chat with Dhara Vora

After celebrating 25 years of being in the fashion world, last year, with an eponymous coffee table book, it was time Suneet Varma — the toast of Delhi’s fashion circles —opened a sprawling store in the city. As Varma looks forward to seeing a lot more of Mumbai, he shares his enthusiasm as he breaks into laughter every few minutes.

Suneet Varma’s new store at Kemps Corner. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

One such reason to laugh is the location of his new store — Kemps Corner. The venue has turned out to be a fashionable spot with stores of designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and Shon Randhawa’s heritage revivalist label Patine, all housed in the same building. “It is such a coincidence: Shon’s store is next to mine at DLF Emporio in Delhi too! I called her up, we joked that we are this monogamous couple who go everywhere together,” he shares.

Though he has been selling out of multi-designer stores in the city mostly, Varma tells us that he always felt the need to open one huge space after two of his stores at shut shop last spring: “I will still be retailing out of multi-label stores, they are a result of the vision of the person running the store. A flagship store, instead, always embodies the brand,” he says.

Bombay loveVarma admits that the lookout to find the perfect place for his flagship store has taken a while. “I liked Bandra as it was closer to the stars, but most of my clients come from South Bombay. Once the location was set, everything was smooth. People are professional and paperwork is not sluggish. Even my interiors were done on time,” raves Varma.

A sketch of one of his outfits for a forthcoming fashion event

The designer feels that it will also be easier to connect with stylists with a store in the city. Quiz him on his favourite place in Mumbai, it is none other than King Khan’s house. “I was at his home for his birthday dinner; they are a very warm and hospitable couple. Otherwise, I usually stay at The Oberoi. I enjoy taking long walks on the sea front. I also like eating at Wasabi, and bhel puri on the street,” he reveals.

Suneet Varma, fashion designer

Designing it allLike several fashion designers, Varma too dabbles with different projects — from the interiors of BMW to Deverana group of hotels’ new project called D2, his current assignment. “I can’t be happy doing just fashion. When you work on other projects it gives you more discipline as you are working with other design heads,” he explains. Varma is also ready with his collection for Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, which will see him play with mirror work, “my current obsession”. The designs true to his fashion belief will be lightweight and will make use of the Chanderi fabric.

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